Kenyan digital workers subjected to mundane jobs, poor pay - Report

Kenyan workers have been subjected to mundane roles and poor pay compared to their counterparts in other jurisdictions.

This is according to a report by the non-profit lobby group Siasa Place dubbed ‘Unemployment and Digital Jobs Youth Perspectives’ on the changing nature of work. 

The lobby group will now work with legislators to address gaps in the labour laws which they say have been overtaken by time, leaving hundreds of youth exposed to exploitation.

As the government continues to push for digitisation and online jobs, the new study shows that up to 92 per cent of Kenyans acknowledge the increased work opportunities brought about by digitalization.

However, in sharp contrast, only 39 per cent of the population has actively engaged in digital jobs or even expressed interest in exploring such opportunities for income generation.

The report paints a different picture from the government narrative that Kenyan youth are actively engaged and earning a living through their engagement in digital jobs.

“A lot of this work is brought into our country because they know that the job as much as it appears to be simple is very difficult because of its simplicity and the mundane of it,” said Siasa Place Executive Director Nerima Wako.

“A lot of them say they do a lot of research and a lot of online writing but we expected to hear things like coding...and they are not paid as much as if they were in the US or UK.”

Owing to the poor pay that has been equated to slavery, Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji now says he will be submitting a Digital Labour Bill to the National Assembly to draw a roadmap that cautions Kenyan workers from exploitation.

MP Mukunji noted that the country has been operating with outdated labour laws that are more than 17 years old and do not address the current needs of the labour market.

The legislator further blamed current trade union leadership for the exploitation of Kenyan youth working for international companies through BPOS.

“It is obvious that our trade unions especially our big trade union have been hijacked... Atwoli cannot be the person to lead the new workforce and be able to negotiate with multinationals on issues of labour in this country,” MP Mukunji said.

The labour stakeholders now want the government to implement this year's Labour Day theme which calls for social justice and decent work for all.

This year’s Labour Day celebrations come amid an ongoing strike by doctors which is on its 49th day.

“Kenyans must realise the value of work, we spend about 75 per cent of our lives at the workplace and this cannot happen when you are exploited,” KMPDU National Deputy Chairperson Dr. Kahura Mundia noted.